Devendra Kumar
President Joe Biden is set to announce a plan in his State of the Union address for the US military to establish a temporary port on the Gaza coast, aiming to boost the flow of humanitarian aid to the besieged territory. The move comes as a result of the devastating five-month long conflict between Israel and Hamas, which has led to a worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Many Palestinians, particularly in the devastated north, are struggling to access essential items like food due to the ongoing hostilities and breakdown of public order.
Aid groups have been finding it challenging to deliver supplies within Gaza, citing difficulties in coordinating with the Israeli military, hostilities, and the breakdown of public order. As a result, the US has had to resort to alternative methods, including airdrops, to get aid into Gaza. President Biden first proposed the idea of a “marine corridor” last week, stating that the US is working with allies to provide assistance from the sea to those in Gaza.
General Erik Kurilla, head of US Central Command, briefed officials on the maritime option, which would allow the US military to provide aid to Gaza without the need for American troops on the ground. According to Kurilla, US Central Command has provided options for increasing the number of trucks delivering aid to areas in Gaza where there is no Israeli presence. The latest development indicates that the US is exploring alternative ways to get aid into Gaza, circumventing its main Middle East ally, Israel.
The US military possesses the capabilities to build a pier from “just offshore”, officials said, although further details about the plan remain unclear. The establishment of a temporary port on the Gaza coast would enable more shipments of food, medicine, and other essential items to reach the territory, potentially alleviating the humanitarian crisis. The plan is a significant development in the long-standing conflict between Israel and Palestine, and its reception by all parties involved remains to be seen.